This week on Crouch Cinema Corner, we’re blasting off to LV-426 for James Cameron’s 1986 sci-fi action classic Aliens. As part of our “James Cameron Big Bioluminescence” season, we dive into the film that turned Ridley Scott’s eerie haunted-house-in-space into a full-on adrenaline rush of Colonial Marines, xenomorphs, and power loaders.

We compare Alien and Aliens and debate whether they should even be compared at all, unpack Cameron’s knack for perfect endings, and laugh our way through some of his more over-the-top production stories (some are cringe). There’s also a heartfelt discussion about Ripley’s role as a reluctant hero and how the film balances terror, action, and emotion better than almost any sequel ever made.

Along the way, we revisit a few “Crouch Faux Pas” from past episodes, adjust our Terminator star ratings, and dig into what makes Cameron’s movies so endlessly rewatchable. It’s a fun, fast-paced, and affectionately nerdy conversation about one of the greatest sequels in film history. Strap in, stay frosty, and get ready for some bug-stomping fun with Crouch Cinema Corner.